AMELS delivers first hybrid and world’s first Tier III superyacht

05 jul 2018

This week Dutch luxury superyacht builder AMELS successfully delivered VOLPINI 2, right on time at the AMELS yard in the Netherlands. The 57.7-metre Limited Editions yacht (188 ft) is the first delivery of the new AMELS 188 design, the world’s first Tier III compliant new build yacht and the first with AMELS Hybrid Power. VOLPINI 2 is now on her way to the Mediterranean.

The AMELS 188 was sold in 2017 with Ben Young of SYM Superyacht Management representing the owner, a repeat AMELS client. SYM Superyacht Management supervised the build through to its completion, working together with the Captain and crew.

"AMELS listened carefully to what was important to the clients in the final stages of construction and delivered on time and on budget,” Ben comments. “The entire AMELS team were a real pleasure to work alongside with each and every person getting behind the project to deliver. It is not often that shipyards truly put their clients first, however AMELS absolutely did."

The AMELS 188 has an all new exterior design by Tim Heywood and interiors by Reymond Langton. The wide 10.6-metre beam (35 ft) adds to the high volume (970 Gross Tonnage) interiors with high ceiling heights. VOLPINI 2 features an Owners Suite with folding balcony (12 square metres / 130 sq ft), six suites including a VIP suite on Bridge Deck, a Sun Deck Sky Lounge accessed by central staircase and elevator, plus a Beach Club and wellness area with internal stairs to the Main Saloon.

“This design is an important milestone for AMELS,” comments Hans Konings, AMELS Design Manager. “We’re very proud of the technology innovations that have gone into her design, the culmination of our AMELS 188 Research and Development programme, which we started in 2014.”

The International Maritime Organization’s Tier III emissions regulations require new motor yachts over 500 Gross Tonnage with a global cruising area and a keel laid after 1 January 2016 to reduce the harmful NOX emissions in their engine exhaust gases by around 70 percent.

“With our AMELS Limited Editions approach to yacht building, we need to look further ahead and anticipate the demands of our future clients. That’s why as far as we understand, we are the world’s first new build yard to reach this milestone. What began as a challenge for our industry just a few years ago is now becoming standard practice – to the benefit of our environment.”

In addition to the Tier III engineering, the AMELS 188 features the AMELS Hybrid Power. The system combines energy sources from engine heat recovery, a battery bank and a father-and-son generator configuration to increase efficiency and reduce harmful emissions. Read Hans’ article of the whole story about our Tier III and hybrid development.